radionotes podcast episodes

076 Cynthia Tauro

by | Jul 5, 2020 | episodes | 0 comments

076 Cynthia Tauro

Cynthia Tauro has a soul based in jazz, with a refreshing pop sensibility that includes music firmly in their genes. Their latest release Moments was produced by no less than George Koller.

From Toronto, Cynthia spoke to radionotes about their jazz numbers, originals as well as performing along side Little Scream LIVE in concert and  – yes – about their mother’s cooking to…

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IMAGE CREDIT: Zlad Dujsic / Phil Beans

Opening cut from the Moments release is Dancin’ On My Own. Chat recorded on Mothers’ Day (in Australia), so a lot about her mother was covered in the chat.

SHOW NOTES: Cynthia Tauro

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Feature Guest: Cynthia Tauro

Next Episode: The Wolfe Brothers

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[Radio Production – notes: ]

CREDITS

Theme/Music: Martin Kennedy and All India Radio   

Web-design/tech: Steve Davis

Voice: Tammy Weller  

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TRANSCRIPT

First version provided by REV team member Erin W – check to audio before quoting wider

John Murch:
Welcome to radionotes.

Cynthia Tauro:
Thanks for having me.

John Murch:
I think it might be appropriate considering it is Mother’s Day to start with the family.

Cynthia Tauro:
I come from a family of musicians. My mother, specifically, which I’m excited, we’re actually going there for brunch tomorrow for Mother’s Day. She is a singer and a pianist. She wrote this book for classical piano. So her parents are, my Papa was a working musician until he was 85-years-old. My granny is a singer and accordion player. My two uncles are both working musicians. It was always in my family, basically.

John Murch:
And your mother’s released five albums as well.

Cynthia Tauro:
Yeah.

John Murch:
Is that the aspiration?

Cynthia Tauro:
Yes, for sure. I hope I can make that much material. My mom has a million and one songs, which is really cool. I ask her a lot for songwriting questions because she’s done a lot of it, and she’s very good.

John Murch:
What do you get from your mother, artistically speaking, do you think?

Cynthia Tauro:
I think almost everything, considering my dad is very opposite. My dad’s science, business, math, no artist. I mean, he appreciates the arts, but artistically, I think I get my singing, my playing, my creativeness, sensitivity and everything that from her.

John Murch:
In terms of a family sort of outing, back a few years ago there was a Universe In A Kiss, a live cabaret performance.

Cynthia Tauro:
Yeah. Wow, this is amazing that you actually know a lot about … You’ve done your good research. She basically created an entire circus show. She created the music first because my sister is … I have two sisters. One is a circus performer. She does Cirque de Solei in Dubai but she’s home right now, which is good because of the whole situation. So my mom was on a phase of writing all this music and then she said, wow, this would be perfect for a circus show. Because we’ve been to so many Cirque Du Soleil shows and seeing my sister perform to specific tracks. So she created an entire show and now Universe In A Kiss is basically her performing live with some sort of circus element and then with also a visual element.

Cynthia Tauro:
She wanted it to be an entire show of like Cirque Du Soleil, but she’s kind of starting small and building and music is really good.

John Murch:
It’s fascinating because a previous guest of ours Orcha who plays the violin and classically trained all that kind of stuff, but does original sound type music has been working with performance artists as well. So when you’re in that space, what do you get? Is there a next level that you see?

Cynthia Tauro:
It was next level. Because also, it was my sister at the time who was performing literally in front of the stage while we’re saying some of the songs. It was just a great feeling because also who you’re playing with on stage, if you’re loving all the musicians who are playing with you on stage. So first you’re vibing on stage and then you look out and there’s a circus performer who happens to be your sister. It’s kind of just a whole nother feeling. It was really cool.

John Murch:
Another question on the mother before we move on. As we said, it’s mother’s day here, we’ll be very … It’s what you call the mother’s day weekend. What does she cook so well?

Cynthia Tauro:
Love it. Everything. One of my favorite meals of hers is probably her veal cutlets or pasta or her tomato sauce is really good. And she’s a very good baker as well. So she decided to combine her music and her cooking just because she has been cooking for us literally every meal since we were babies. She decided to why not combine them and she’s so good. Also, her Biscotti, they’re well known. They’re a hit.

John Murch:
I know where we’re moving on to next. Before we do in the show notes, I’ll put a link to your mother’s YouTube channel where your sister’s in the kitchen. It’s entertaining. It’s fun.

Cynthia Tauro:
I’m so happy that you’re seeing these.

John Murch:
Moves on to next passion, which is that of coffee. What’s your fascination with coffee. What’s your coffee of choice?

Cynthia Tauro:
I like that. Wait, did you know that I love coffee or is this just a random question?

John Murch:
It’s kind of random, but it’s also the fact that you actually have a mug of coffee. When you perform, have a huge mug of coffee.

Cynthia Tauro:
Okay, yes. I’m always drinking coffee. To be honest, actually my favorite coffee right now is McDonald’s coffee. I know, I know. Well, the thing is it’s half and half. Some people are like, wow, that is the best coffee. You’re so right. And when other people are like, are you serious?

John Murch:
What about the food though? It is just the coffee?

Cynthia Tauro:
Mm-hmm (affirmative). The Mcdonald’s food?

John Murch:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).

Cynthia Tauro:
Not really about that. Once in a while. Yes. Maybe once every couple months.

John Murch:
Been over a decade since I’ve walked into one of those establishments. I don’t know. I just think if I don’t walk in, I won’t get it. I won’t go down that rabbit hole, will be fine. But if you’re-

Cynthia Tauro:
It’s really tough.

John Murch:
But, if you’re at a cafe, a barista is actually making you a coffee, what are you ordering from said barista?

Cynthia Tauro:
Either an Americano or a latte. Actually oatmeal with lattes are kind of really good right now.

John Murch:
Remind us what Americano is?

Cynthia Tauro:
An Americano is that shot of espresso and with hot water. And then they fill the cup with hot water. Or it’s a double American, it’s two shots of espresso, I think and then fill it with hot water. Or latte. Have you ever tried oat milk? I really love oat milk.

John Murch:
I actually have, because I didn’t want the soya. I actually my milk from an animal, but that’s just me. I’m a little weird like that.

Cynthia Tauro:
Right? Weird. I still enjoy regular milk as well, but oatmeal has … If you don’t want regular, because sometimes actually with my throat, I notice a difference when I am having dairy products. And so once in a while, it’s nice to switch it up, but right now, for example, I have been using regular milk.

John Murch:
I’m now seeing what vocal things work for you.

Cynthia Tauro:
Well, technically, I think honestly, maybe for the past two years, no, maybe year and a half, I have been trying to do this warmup every day that I do with my vocal coach, Mark Baxter, who’s in Boston and he has all these YouTube videos online. And so specifically I do that every day. And then I’ve been also eating I guess, a lot of honey lately and I’ve noticed a big difference on my voice. That’s kind of it though. Just try to vocalize as much as I can and not eat yogurt or a lot of milk.

Cynthia Tauro:
Some people say that’s kind of a fad. It’s actually not true the whole dairy thing and milk, but I actually have noticed a difference. Where I’m constantly clearing my throat when I used to have yogurt every day. And then I noticed I was constantly clearing my throat. And then I stopped having it and I’m like, wow, I don’t do that anymore.

John Murch:
On that point, singer songwriter, Simon Kelly of Perth, Australia used to swear by Sambuca, clear it out before going on stage.

Cynthia Tauro:
That would be nice too. Right before you go on, yeah. I’ve never done that. I think I’ve actually done that. I was in a band in Ottawa and sometimes we would do that right before I go on stage, take a shot. Or sometimes the lead singer would get a shot and he would make us all take one before we got on stage and then we would have one with the audience while we’re playing. And that’s kind of fun, but for my own shows, I don’t usually do that, but I kind of want to try.

John Murch:
Let’s talk about Baxter, the vocal coach you mentioned right there in Boston. So when did you meet them? How did that come about?

Cynthia Tauro:
Honestly, every musical thing that I get is from my mom again. Because my mom, I think she was reading one of his books and then she contacted him and he ended up doing Skype lessons for her. It was probably five years ago that she introduced me to him and then I started taking vocal lessons via Skype. He’s phenomenal. He’s really good. He knows every little thing about the voice and about your throat, your larynx, the vocal chords, everything.

John Murch:
Something as very important as a jazz vocalist like yourself is when we’re talking about the voice, that of delivery of emotion as well. How much time and effort have you put into that? How much of it comes naturally for you?

Cynthia Tauro:
That’s a good question. Because sometimes I think that I actually don’t put enough emotion into my singing to be honest. And that’s also where my mom and I differ, I think because she puts everything into her songs. Whatever she’s singing, she’s this is what you shouldn’t be doing. But thinking about every word and it’s all emotion. With me, I think it’s because I used to, I still do a lot of background gigs, where I play at hotels for four hours or I play at weddings, I play special events. I do that as how I make money, and then I also have my original stuff. And I think that kind of gets me on almost, it’s almost desensitized from what I’m playing. So I’m trying to work on that more and just really focusing on exactly what I’m saying and maybe play more of my original stuff. Because whenever I play more original stuff, that’s all I’m thinking about. But covers that I play, I’m kind of like, okay, I can play this a lot.

John Murch:
Shangri-La is a five star hotel that you do some of those performances in, and you are that. You are in the background, you’re there to set a mood, a tone people look over and go, they’re actually alive and playing great. This is five star after role. Do you sometimes, maybe you do. Can you confess this slip in an original or two in a jazz mode?

Cynthia Tauro:
Yes I do. And I think it’s okay because it’s like-

John Murch:
Of course, it’s okay.

Cynthia Tauro:
Right? People are listening, but they’re not actually listening. So maybe I’ll do it 1% or something if I’m doing four sets or if I’m doing two sets. It’s funny how much faster the time goes by when you play an original.

John Murch:
I’m thinking also that gives you a sense of ownership, brings you back to where you as a musician are at at the time. I would imagine when you jazz up or improvise out the classic modern tunes like that of Back to Black, that I’ve heard, which is just fascinating, how you’ve actually reinterpreted-

Cynthia Tauro:
Oh, thank you. There are certain songs that I think you just resonate with and that are easy to play.

John Murch:
Back to what we were saying about the emotive vocal as well. That is a modern classic. Gives you a chance to use the emotive vocal while still doing the song after.

Cynthia Tauro:
I think it’s also because I love that type … I kind of love a lot of different types of music.

John Murch:
Let’s compare that to maybe doing something a Burdoch pub, a more sort of pub kind of gig.

Cynthia Tauro:
Yeah. The Burdoch is a lot different in a lot. That is fun. I would curate my set and it’d be a 45 minute set. That specific venue is really intimate and the environment is really nice because it is if a pub on one side, and it’s kind of an upscale kind of pub that’s they have good beers, and then on the other side, they have a soundproof concert hall kind of tiny it’s small, but it’s really nice there. And you can have a really intimate show and it’s fun. You get to play with your friends. I get to only basically playing my original stuff, throw in some covers here and there and that’s fun.

John Murch:
Debut album, Moments has a large proportion of originals on it as well. Sometimes hard to know what is original, because you do it in such a unique way, you could all be originals, but of course we know they’re not

Cynthia Tauro:
Thank you. Four originals on there and then for covers. We did it all live off the floor. Then I had met most of the musicians. I knew of them. I was really fortunate to play with best musicians in Toronto or Canada. I had the charts for my original staff and they just read through the charts. And we talked about the songs before and …

John Murch:
George Koller is the producer and also played some base as well, which I think is highlighted in the opening pastures of the original like that as well.

Cynthia Tauro:
I was lucky to work with him. I actually met him when I was back in Ottawa, which is funny and he was playing … Do Laila Biali? She’s someone who I would look up to in terms of she’s from Toronto and she’s a great pianist and singer. She kind of makes this jazz pop. She was playing in Ottawa with George Koller and with her husband, Ben on drums. And, since Ottawa is such a small town, I went and obviously we got to meet them after. And so I met George and he knew my uncle who’s also bassist as well from Toronto.

Cynthia Tauro:
So we connected exchanged information. And then when I moved back to Toronto from Ottawa, I think I emailed him. And then we just said, “We should work together. He produces people. I’ve seen what he does.” So then we got together. I showed him all my stuff and then he’s like, “Yes, let’s do it.” And he kind of produced a lot of musicians and we put everything together and it was fun. And we recorded number 9 audio studio in Toronto.

John Murch:
What’s the feeling walking into audio 9 on that first day, knowing that you had the charts in your bag that you had the keys ready to go.

Cynthia Tauro:
When I first was meeting with George or with all the musicians?

John Murch:
Let’s start with meeting with George first and we will get to that second part second. When you first walked into audio 9 and George was there …

Cynthia Tauro:
I was pretty nervous. I think I had also had … Full disclosure, I think I went out the night before and so I was a bit foggy in my brain. Actually, I don’t think I even brought my charts, but I just played for him. And I played all my songs and I played the covers that I knew, already been playing these gigs in Ottawa, the four hour gigs, so solo piano voice gigs. And then he was like, “These are great. I love the originals. Which cover should we do?” And then I showed him a couple latin covers and he hadn’t heard one of them. He’s like, “That’s perfect.” The… Demoed 12 songs. He played bass and then I played keys and vocals-

John Murch:
On day one?

Cynthia Tauro:
On day one, yeah. And Bernie who’s the engineer who’s also amazing, he recorded everything. And then after that took a listen to all the demos and then chose the eight songs that we were going to do and then got charts together.

Cynthia Tauro:
I had already had all of my charts for my original stuff, but I cleaned them up. And then we interacted with all the musicians, emailed them.

John Murch:
The vibe that you got from these musicians that I guess he put together for you, but you had some sense of their background as well.

Cynthia Tauro:
On the day, one, I was nervous because they’re all the best musicians in Canada. So I’m like okay. But, they couldn’t have made it easier for me. That’s what was the really cool thing is that it was just all really easy and nice and fun and good vibes and love. And you’d think that you’d be so intimidated, playing. And I was, but it didn’t really come off as that. It was easy and fun. And I liked my stuff, which was also really cool.

John Murch:
It’s been a little while since we’ve mentioned your mother, so we’ll just mention her here. What was that phone call or conversation, or maybe it was face to face that you had before going into the studio with these musicians?

Cynthia Tauro:
Good question. Obviously told her all the musicians that I’m going to be working with. And then she’s, “Great, I love them.” And she was all excited. She hadn’t met Davide before, I don’t think is the drummer on it. He’s a phenomenal, Davide Di Renzo. She said, “That’s all amazing. But just remember you’re good and you can do it. George, he wouldn’t have done this if he didn’t think that you could do this and you know you can and don’t be intimidated.” And so she really kind of pumped me up and I’m like, “Okay, I think I can do this.”

John Murch:
You mentioned Davide there who was on the drums. Who else was on board for this recording?

Cynthia Tauro:
So Davide on drums, Ted Quinlan on guitar. When I was younger, I went to a music camp. He was the guitar teacher in the music camp so that’s how I knew him. And George obviously was on bass George Koller. Matt Lagan on sax and clarinet, and then Perry White on sax.

John Murch:
Let’s talk about that pedigree though. You mentioned about the school camp there knowing one of the musicians from that. But in fact, you studied jazz at Carlton University with one of the greats who’s performed with Ella Fitzgerald, Dionne Warwick, Tom Jones, Aretha Franklin to name a few.

Cynthia Tauro:
Yeah, right –

John Murch:
Talk to us about earning under Mark Ferguson and what that was like?

Cynthia Tauro:
Mark … Personal, this is such a great interview because I love how, everything. And, I get to talk about everything that I love as well. He was such a huge influence and he’s actually the main reason that I stayed in Ottawa because he was such a great teacher. He taught me a lot, just foundation about playing keys and about being a working musician, what you do and what you don’t do. And we also just had a lot of fun. We had tea almost every lesson and would just talk a lot and talk about music. So he really helped me.

Cynthia Tauro:
And even with arranging, he taught some courses at Carlton as well. And so he taught an arrangement course. He taught composition. And so it was really great. I loved it.

John Murch:
He also does some work at McGill as well. So he’s got that encompassment as well. Because McGill’s known for its performing arts and of course, Carlton is known for its as well. But I want to know what was the driving force to stay the course at university, to actually want to be there to actually study. Was it easy for you to be at university?

Cynthia Tauro:
Yeah, it actually was. I think it’s because I had such great friends who were also studying with me and also great musicians. And also I made great friends who weren’t musicians. So I had kind of both because I was there, I was in residents in first year and obviously not in music residents. So I’m still really good friends with people who I met first year. And then I had all my department, the music department friends. And then it was just fun. I really enjoyed all the courses, learning classical music history and all that stuff.

John Murch:
Is it true that university for you whilst you did have a huge background of a musical family and music in your life and everything else relating to music, that university nailed music as being something that Cynthia would have in her life?

Cynthia Tauro:
Yes, because out of high school, I wasn’t necessarily sure exactly what I wanted to do. I actually remember the day and I was like, wouldn’t it be cool if we could only do music the rest of our life? If I could just be playing, if I could just be performing and having gigs, that’s all I did. And then my friend is like, “Yeah, why else would you be here?” Because I knew I wanted to have music in my life, but I didn’t really know to what extent or in what way I wanted to have it in my life.

John Murch:
When did the drive of being a songwriter, when did that start?

Cynthia Tauro:
That started late as well, I think, that’s sort of in third year. I think I wrote my first song when I was 21, I think 20, 21. Because I had never written before. And I think I just was, I am feeling really sad and tried to write a song. I still actually do. I don’t mind it, my first song that I ever wrote.

John Murch:
So you’ve had a few years of the great Mark Ferguson and that point under your belt, teaching you the bedrock, really, including that live performance as we mentioned, a couple of names there that he’s performed with. He knows what it’s to perform with someone.

Cynthia Tauro:
For sure. Yeah, exactly. No, I loved it. I feel he also taught me just … It was nice because he knew everyone too in this city and he knew all the musicians. And so it was, if you were with Mark, you’re part of the crowd. I got to meet a lot of great musicians just by having him as a teacher, which was nice, in Ottawa.

John Murch:
What was that feeling like to actually know that you could actually use that knowledge base that you’d got to actually express your own feelings?

Cynthia Tauro:
It was really exciting. I think I called my mom after I sent a recording. I still do this to my mom and my sisters, of the song. And they’re, “Oh my God, it’s so good. Oh my God.” And I’m, Wow, I can do this. Cool.” But it’s really good. It’s almost now like a therapeutic thing. After you write a so, it’s the best feeling ever.

John Murch:
The therapy of the workspace that you have that of course is the piano, the charts you’re making at the time, the lyrics of course. But also the tissue box as well. A bit of a crier when you write.

Cynthia Tauro:
Yes. Yes. I don’t think I have written a song and not cried. Which is I don’t know if it’s necessarily a good thing because I was also saying, I think I put too much pressure on myself with writing songs. But it’s true though, you have to be emotionally in it, and you have to really be feeling for me, at least the songs that I write, I’m very connected to them and it’s literally how I feel. And so it could be happy or sad too. Because now I’m writing a bunch of happy songs and still when I’m writing them I’m sobbing.

John Murch:
So it all involves waterworks at some level, happiness or otherwise?

Cynthia Tauro:
It really does. And it’s kind of funny because it’s just like … My boyfriend will come out into the room and he’s like, “Are you crying? Why are you crying?” I’m like, “It’s just my work.”

John Murch:
That brings us right to the lead single off the album called Dancin’ on My Own, which is not as lamentful as it might first suggest. People have commented about the video clip and rightly so yet again, in the show notes, there’ll be there for people to check out. But give us a talk through on that process of the writing of.

Cynthia Tauro:
I was in a relationship back when I was in Ottawa and it was very rocky. It was going back and forth all the time. We would break up, we’d get back together and then we’d break up. I had my own apartment at the time and I was just at my apartment. And at the time, I don’t know, he wasn’t there or maybe we were on a time where we were broken up, and I was just dancing in my apartment by myself because it was really good music that I was listening to. And I was wow, I love doing this and I can feel so good without him and I don’t need all that negativity, maybe I shouldn’t say that.

John Murch:
If there was negativity at the time, then, call a spade a spade.

Cynthia Tauro:
Yeah, exactly. I just didn’t need that. It was nice to just be myself and dancing. So then I wrote Dancin’ on My Own. I think I might’ve even written the verse and then chorus. I was going to say I wrote the chorus first, I don’t think I did. I just started writing.

John Murch:
Did you get a sense of empowerment –

Cynthia Tauro:
Yeah, for sure empowerment. And I think I also had … You know Sara Bareilles’ love song (singing). I think I kind of had that in my mind because that’s why I… the piano, the four chord in the beginning kind of ish the same. But yeah, I for sure had the sense of empowerment as well.

John Murch:
But then we look at a song like Far Away for example, and that took us about the distance and the belonging aspects as well of the relationship.

Cynthia Tauro:
Yes. That one I had written before, too. That was a year or two before I wrote Dancin’ On My Own. And that one was a longing and someone was leaving. We weren’t even really together actually, that’s the thing. It’s not like we were in a relationship, but it was just about someone going somewhere and you not wanting them to go. And then that was more a simple song and I actually play it differently on the album. It’s almost like a ballad and when I play it live, it’s more funky and a bit more up tempo and very opposite, I guess lyrics.

John Murch:
The optimism coming through as well of where you are now maybe? The change of play?

Cynthia Tauro:
Yeah, for sure. Before it was sad almost deeply sad. And I was like, they were a bit happier.

John Murch:
Music should reveal the soul. Let’s talk about Bill Evans. When were you first introduced to Bill Evans and what impact did they have?

Cynthia Tauro:
I like Bill Evans. My mom, I think introduced me to Bill Evans. Right before I was applying to university, she gave me a list of jazz pianists and just jazz musicians who I need to be listening to. Obviously Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson was on there. And I don’t know, I just gravitated towards Bill Evans, his playing, his sensibility, his voicings, just the emotion that he puts into his playing. He’s my favorite pianist.

John Murch:
Get a sense or maybe learn from Evans that of spacing as well that silences sometimes be the strength?

Cynthia Tauro:
Yeah. That’s one of the things he does so well. He was the first player at the time to be doing what he was doing, you know what I mean? Now there’s so many people, but at that time there’s no one like Bill Evans. And just all of his small lines and his melodic playing and …. I learnt a lot from Bill Evans. Also with Mark, I think that’s one of his favorite players as well.

John Murch:
And also from memory-

Cynthia Tauro:
Along with Horace Silver.

John Murch:
Also from memory Evans was very much at home in a trio as well. Do you get that sense as well that sometimes a trio is better than a quartet?

Cynthia Tauro:
Yeah. I love bringing it back just to a trio. It’s really nice because then you can just connect with two other people, bass and drums. I don’t know. For me sometimes if I’m seeing as well, then I’m like, a guitar is kind of nice because you lean on the guitar and there’s not as much pressure for you to be copying and singing and soloing. But with just playing, if I’m just playing and not singing as well then, yeah. I love playing trio.

John Murch:
Back in 2016, you were part of the very accredited Comfortably Numb outfit, which is a Pink Floyd. And is that true, and was it as fun as it sounds it would have been?

Cynthia Tauro:
Yes, that is true. It was fun. We toured a bit. Me and my friend Mackenzie, who is also with me and in the program in Ottawa at Carlton, we were the background singers for literally Canada’s number one the Pink Floyd…. actually based out of Ottawa. That’s the thing. I think they had reached out to the head of the music department at Carlton and said we need singers. And then he reached out to me and then … It was fun though. I got to learn a lot of Pink Floyd. I didn’t know a lot of Pink Floyd before then. It was me and McKenzie and then just a bunch of kind of old guys who were nice and fun, but it’s not like it was the … It was a good experience to say in the least. It was a good experience.

John Murch:
Musical theatre, Mama Mia in 2018. Now, musical theater, what’s your favorite musical theatre show to see?

Cynthia Tauro:
Oh my God, I have so many. I really love musical theater actually. New York, the best one that I had been to was probably Wicked. I love Wicked. But then also I love Sound of Music, a classic.

John Murch:
The final one, I want to check with you if you don’t mind is, for your birthday, you did a fundraiser for a hospital, which was part of a stroke program.

Cynthia Tauro:
Where my parents live, they just live 45 minutes North of Toronto in farm country, basically. Their neighbors who had just moved in, Chris, he had a stroke a couple years back. And he was I think the first person to ever have this stroke, this specific thing that was wrong with his brain. And so he wanted to have a fundraiser for the doctors who basically brought him to life and kept him living. He had the fundraiser literally right across the street from my parents at their farm. And it fell on the day of my birthday, September 15th. And he had a huge band. He had everything and so he wanted me to play. It was in support of a great cause. That would be the connection there.

John Murch:
And the other fun fact is that your birthday is also the passing date of Bill Evans of course.

Cynthia Tauro:
Bill Evans. Wow. How did you know that?

John Murch:
Well, he died on that day. He died in 1980.

Cynthia Tauro:
Oh no. Yeah, ’80. It’s actually funny because Bill Evans had died on September 15th and another one of my heroes, Joe Bean. He died in 1994 and that’s when I was born.

John Murch:
There’s a tune called Wondering from a number of years ago.

Cynthia Tauro:
Wondering. Yeah.

John Murch:
What a cracker of a tune. Have you reworked that over the years?

Cynthia Tauro:
Oh thank you. I haven’t reworked it. I kind of play it the same ish with some changes, but I haven’t recorded that on an album or on anything and I kind of want to. It’s just that live off the floor recording.

John Murch:
Because it hasn’t been released. Are you comfortable about going back into your library of material of songs that you’ve written for the new release, or are you looking to do something completely new where you go maybe to the family farm or something and just write for the album?

Cynthia Tauro:
That’s a good question. For the new release, it’s kind of all new stuff. It’s kind of all stuff that I’ve written over the past year I’d say. I do want to, at some point release Wondering because whenever I play it, I always get comments of, “Oh my God, that’s a great song. Why isn’t that on the record?” Because I had already technically had done it, but just live off the floor. So I think eventually at some point I will record it.

John Murch:
The thing about Wondering is it just would sit so, and we don’t do it anymore I know. I’m a bit old fashioned that. But it sits really well as a 70 inch 45 B side. It has a place somewhere, but I can appreciate that it’s in the past and it’s obviously of a different time and you want to probably be a bit more funkier and youthful.

Cynthia Tauro:
That’s the thing. I wrote it and I’m happy, but at the same time I still enjoy playing it. All my live sessions that I do still play that song and it’s still a fun one to play.

John Murch:
How are you going with, particularly in these times with the whole live performance? And what I mean is, as a performer using that screen medium, how are you finding that?

Cynthia Tauro:
It’s actually not bad. I’m kind of enjoying it because I can be not ready or I can be just hanging out and doing nothing two minutes before I’m playing, and then just step in front of the camera and I am at a gig basically. And then right after my gig, I can just be home and not have to go anywhere. Also, you don’t have to go to the gig five hours in advance and be waiting around. It’s kind of nice.

Cynthia Tauro:
It’s a bit weird with the audience, because obviously you’re just performing or talking to your screen and so you’re not sure how they’re reacting or whatever. But for now it’s getting, I get to focus also on my writing more. I still would prefer a live audience for sure, but it’s not bad.

John Murch:
But at the moment we’ve got something called the Isolaid Festival where some pretty big names do 20 minutes set and it’s their original staff and maybe finish with a cover just to round it out. But what they are using for I’m sure is they look back at that 20 minutes ago, where was the most interaction? Where were they talking about what songs? All that kind of stuff. So you might be able to play the audience a little and get their feedback. But, as you said, on the originals obviously.

Cynthia Tauro:
Very good idea. I love that for sure. Look at the analytics and look at how many people are joining each one and specifically what song they’re liking the best.

John Murch:
I what about other groups that you’ve been in that you’re a part of. I’m drawn to this six piece pop soul group, Harea Band.

Cynthia Tauro:
Sadly, I’m not really with Harea Band anymore. They played a very important role in my life, my career, I think because one, they’re all great friends from university. Two, I think it was literally the first time I was only … I first started out, it was in second year or third year when I played my first gig with them, with my friend Mackenzie again, she’s also a vocalist. And yet it was my first kind of show where I was on stage just singing, not playing keys and just backer and singing. So she was telling me, “At these clubs, you have to literally put your mouth on the mic or else people will not hear you.” Just small things that I learned playing club dates basically and gigging. And then eventually I started playing keyboard with them and then more background singing. We toured a bit across Ontario, across Montreal and then I moved to Toronto and now I’m not really.

Cynthia Tauro:
They’re still all good friends. But just since I’m not there, I can’t practice, I can’t work with them.

John Murch:
The other artist I want to talk to you about and whilst I don’t think you’re on the record, Speed Queen, the credits don’t have it there, you were touring with, which is fantastic, I want to know more about that, performing keys and maybe backing vocals as well. Wow. Thanks to you-

Cynthia Tauro:
Little Scream?

John Murch:
Thanks to you I’ve been introduced to Little Scream.

Cynthia Tauro:
Yeah. Isn’t she amazing?

John Murch:
Whoa.

Cynthia Tauro:
I love her. I know.

John Murch:
What’s going on with that?

Cynthia Tauro:
I’m so happy.

John Murch:
How did you get involved with Laurel who is Little Scream?

Cynthia Tauro:
So basically, it relates to Harea Band actually, because I was planning a Harea Band show and then the engineer who was doing the sound for that show, Mike, who’s a great guy, he saw me and he’s like, “What are you doing in Ottawa?” like, “You’re a great player. Oh my God.” And I’m like, “Oh, thank you.” And then I think the next week he called me and he was like, “Hey, are you available for this gig, the parents just dropped out.” And it was for Little Scream and she is from Montreal. And he said, “We’re playing here. This is what’s happening.” And I’m like, “Yes, I can do it.”

Cynthia Tauro:
I learned all this stuff by ear, her whole album, which is so much fun to play. I learned a lot about my keyboard like the synthesizers. Went to a Laurel, played at Riverfest, I hung out with Laurel and she’s so nice. And then I played a show in Ottawa with her as well.

John Murch:
You join us on a Saturday night, there’s a tune called No More Saturday night on that record as well, which is a bit of a hit-

Cynthia Tauro:
Oh nice.

John Murch:
A nice little listen. Do you have a favorite track off the album of theirs that you liked performing?

Cynthia Tauro:
I really loved Cannons. That’s a really fun song. It was really fun. Also, Dark Days was also really fun.

John Murch:
Have you kept the friendship with her as well? Musically speaking or otherwise?

Cynthia Tauro:
I saw her in Toronto. Her boyfriend was playing. He’s actually part of Arcade Fire. He’s the bassist in Arcade Fire, Reed Perry. So when she was in his band and so I went and saw her and then we hung out, we talked and everything. That was the last time I saw her though and talked, but who knows, maybe I’ll play with her again. I would love to.

John Murch:
I’d to publicly thank you for introducing me to her music. Very much appreciated. And we’ll give the-

Cynthia Tauro:
Yes, no problem.

John Murch:
… We’ll give the album of full listen obviously in due course. The album is called Speed Queen, that’s out and about.

John Murch:
What are you currently reading Cynthia?

Cynthia Tauro:
Good thing I’m reading a book right now, because sometimes there are times when I’m not. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F? While reading, I’m listening. It’s an audio book. And I’m really liking. I’m almost done sadly.

John Murch:
Okay. Well in terms of hearing, what album are you currently listening to?

Cynthia Tauro:
I’m listening to –

John Murch:
And I did say album.

Cynthia Tauro:
… Listening. Album. I know, right? So one full album?

John Murch:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).

Cynthia Tauro:
I do not know, I’d like to go back. I’m still listening to a lot of Stevie. Lately I’ve been listening to John Prine. I’m not giving you album names because I’ve just been doing playlists.

John Murch:
But Stevie as in Stevie Wonder? What did you get from John Prine? He recently passed.

Cynthia Tauro:
Well, the thing is that I actually hadn’t listened to a lot of John Prine before at all. And then a lot of my current who I admire say Emily King, for example, they were posting about, Oh my God, this was a great song writer. And I’m like, who is John Prine?

Cynthia Tauro:
I love his lyric writing and his song writing. And so it’s really good too. So that’s why I’ve been listening to him a lot lately because I didn’t know him before. His song writing is just beautiful and simple and to the point and heartfelt, that’s what I get out of him.

John Murch:
It’s good sometimes just to deep dive later in someone’s career or life and then go back through it instead of living the experience with them. Are there artists that you’ve discovered in that way that maybe they are from the past, but deep dive through their catalog creatively?

Cynthia Tauro:
I think it’s kind of sad when that happens, when you discover music and then you look and you’re like, wow, they died. That’s the saddest thing.

John Murch:
I haven’t found a place for this in our conversation, but I’ll mention it and it may bring some positive memories or it might not. Recently, you went back to your elementary school for their 50th, not your 50th-

Cynthia Tauro:
Oh yeah. That was really nice. I was playing for the first time in my hometown in Schomburg. I was a stop on my tour for my album.

John Murch:
What was it like growing up there?

Cynthia Tauro:
It was really good. It was really nice growing up there. It was different because to walk to my neighbor who was also my uncle and my cousins. It was about a 10 minute walk. So no real neighbors, but it was nice small town atmosphere and vibes. And we went from the city often enough. My dad worked in the city, and then also we’d go there for dinner or whatever. So we got our city fix, but also had our own little space and quiet and room., a lot of room.

John Murch:
Was there a sense of isolation as well? We’ve recently going through or have been through this period where people are just staying at home. Did you get a sense that that was a positive back then that you had your own place to be isolated from the world?

Cynthia Tauro:
Yeah, for sure. I liked it. I don’t know. I mean maybe growing up, I kind of wished that I could walk to my friend’s house because a lot of my friends could. They’re like, “I’ll just walk to and from school,” and I’m like “I wish I could do that.” But it was still nice. I liked kind of being isolated. Because we still understood that. It’s like, “If you just drive 10 minutes or 15 minutes, there is civilization. We’re not the only ones.”

John Murch:
Recently you played at the 50th for them.

Cynthia Tauro:
Yeah, it was nice. So my grade seven teacher actually came to my show in Schomburg. Then she had mentioned to the people, “If we need someone to sing O Canada at the 50th anniversary, then I’ll just ask Cynthia play and she’s great and this and that.” So they contacted me and that’s kind of how it worked. And it was really nice. I had seen teachers I hadn’t seen forever and my whole family came. I saw some old friends, some old parents of friends and it was just a really nice feeling. I had never actually sang O Canada in public in front of people. So it was a first.

John Murch:
Which is the national Anthem as well, so it does have great gravitas.

Cynthia Tauro:
Yes. So it was good. Very cool.

John Murch:
There must’ve been some sort of flooding of as well. Did it remind you of better times, different times? What were those memories that flooded back –

Cynthia Tauro:
Just different times. It was fun. Because, that school I was at for only two years, grade seven and eight and it just kind of brought me back to seeing my friends and having fun. I had great teachers back then too. So I saw both of them, reconnected so it brought me back to good times. I loved school. Elementary school, high school. It was always fun.

John Murch:
And formative years back at Nobleton public school as well. Cynthia, an absolute pleasure to speak with you. Good luck with the up and coming album. Thanks for doing radionotes.

Cynthia Tauro:
Thank you so much for having me.

 

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